lowering valk

[JohnK]

Hi:
Just bought 12" Progressive 412 HD shocks for rear. Also bought the Progressive springs for front. Will these standard springs work well with 12" shocks on back? I do not want the front higher than rear (bike is a tad high for me). The Progressive website was not all that clear on just which bikes their lowering springs would fit.
Any and all help is muchly appreciated.
Thanks,
JohnK

[mmurffy03]

i have the 11 inch progressive shocks on my 2003 standard that helped me touch the ground flat footed much better  but my front springs are stock

[R J]

Talk to f6gal, she lowered both of her bikes, but I don't know how.....

[John Schmidt]

I have 12" in back and Progressive in the forks. No problem, solid as a rock, I can run hands off at any speed and it doesn't move. I know I'll get some comments about that so everyone understand, my hands are just barely off the grips. My mama didn't raise a fool.

[f6john]

I have had progressive front springs for over 5 years and it appears the front does set a little higher to me. I recently added some 11 1/2" Progressive 440's and that magnified the difference. I am thinking I would like some of XF-6's trees to bring the front down some too. I can however flat foot the bike now.



Progressive front springs, stock rear shocks.



the way the bike sits now. these pics really don't show as well as the first "rolling" pic does

[larryh0841]

John,
   If you want to lower the front forks go to the shop talk page and read the article "Lowering Valkyrie Forks".  This is the safe way to lower the forks.  I have about 76,000 miles on mine since I did this modification and posted the article.  I use 11 1/2" Progressive shocks on the rear.  Never have had a problem.
                                                     Larry

[mirion]

I used the 11.5 412's, progressive front springs and Daryll's raked front triple trees and it seems to be perfect for me, both handling and flatfootedness.

[Ricky-D]

One thing that you must keep in mind when lowering the Valkyrie is the need to keep the drive line angle consistent with the original design concept.

If you simply lower the bike in the rear by way of shorter shock absorbers you will also be changing the drive line running alignment.

This would not normally be a thing to worry about but since there is a single universal joint in the drive line, exceeding the parameters of the design could put excessive strain on the universal joint.

That is why the smart move is to lower the front of the bike correspondingly as you lower the back of the bike.

Jus sayin!

***

[mmurffy03]

also keep in mind the bike sits different on the side stand with my 11 inch shocks installed parking the bike must be checked every time if its not the bike can tip over very easy due to the shorter shocks

[f6john]

John,
   If you want to lower the front forks go to the shop talk page and read the article "Lowering Valkyrie Forks".  This is the safe way to lower the forks.  I have about 76,000 miles on mine since I did this modification and posted the article.  I use 11 1/2" Progressive shocks on the rear.  Never have had a problem.
                                                     Larry

    I have read your write up now all I need is for you to come down and let me watch while you do it one more time .